Who he is: Noel is a 6-11 center who averaged 10.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 4.4 blocks at Kentucky as a freshman.

Upside: Noel’s combination of shot-blocking instincts and athleticism were unmatched in college basketball. He is a potentially elite rim-protector who also has a nose for rebounds. He has a 7-4 wingspan, runs the floor with ease and is a quick-leaper. The fact that Kentucky’s season pretty much fell apart in the wake of Noel’s torn ACL is an indication of just how valuable he was.

Downside: Well, there is the ACL injury to begin with, one that will potentially keep him out until January or beyond. Even before that, though, there were doubts about how Noel’s offensive game would develop. It’s not just that he is raw when it comes to playing in the post—it’s that the post-up game looks like an entirely new concept to him. He has a long way to go down there.

Comparison: As a shot-blocking big man who will need time on the offensive end, a positive-side comparison would be Larry Sanders of Milwaukee. A less-positive comparison would be another Milwaukee big man, Ekpe Udoh.

Scout’s take: “First, I think the knee is going to be fine. Everything I have heard, it is coming along as it is supposed to and he should get back to 100 percent. But you have to think about, OK, what is 100 percent for him? How good can he be? I can see him as a very good defender, but he has so much to learn on the offensive end, you have to wonder if he will ever get there. Footwork. Getting position. Finding your shot. He has to learn all of this.”

Getting personal: Probably the toughest thing for Noel in the wake of his knee injury has been maintaining his weight and strength. When he weighed in at Chicago for the predraft combine, he was only 206 pounds, and for many GMs, that was a red flag—you can’t play center in the NBA at 206 pounds. If his draft stock wavered in recent weeks, that was the reason. “The most I have been is 225,” Noel said. “What I am at now is 217. But I think I can get right back up to 225, 230. When I come back to play that is where I can be. With myself, I want to put weight on gradually and still keep my mobility and my athleticism.”